Locking system for automobile doors



March 1, 1955 SH|NABERY 2,703,001

LOCKING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILE DOORS Filed Oct. 27, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 -AwERENcE SHINABERYNVENTOR- ATTORNEY March 1, 1955 L. SHINABERY 2,703,001

I LOCKING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILE DOORS Filed Oct. 27, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 LAWERENCE sHmABEFW ATTORNEY March 1, 1955 L. SHINABERY LOCKING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILE DOORS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 27, 1950 FIG. 5

LAWERENGE SHINABERY INVENTOR- ATTORNEY March 1, 1955 L. SHINABERY 2,703,001

LOCKING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILE DOORS Filed Oct. 2'7, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 LAWERENCE SHINABERY I ATTORNEY United States Patent 'ifhis inventi'on relates'to improvements in a locking =system'for automobile doors. 'Thisapplication is .a'eontinuation in part, of "my applicationfiled'March 19, 1946 Ser.-No. 655,411, now abandoned.

Inthe automobile industry'it"has hecome 'ageneral 'practice to provide each door of the automobile with individual latches requiringseparate'operations'for loc'k- I ing 'and unlocking "the "doors.

latches of this type have in connection therewith ia push-rod operable "from :the interior er the. automobile upon movement of which from one selected position :to another locks or unlocks thelatch mechariismfiaccord ingly as the push-rod is adjusted. Also, one or'more of said'latch mechanisms, such'as those forthe front doors are also equipped with key operated locks having key holes available from the exterior of v the .autom'obile' by which the corresponding latch mechanism is locked "or unlocked accordingly'as the 'keyis'man'ipulated.

lkn'ob'je'ct ofthe instant 'inventionis to afford a'device adapted: to be operahly "connected" with each one of the push-rods that control the'latches oft heindividual doors :of the automobile to "be activated by said push-rods when any one of said push-rods .is'moved from latchlocking or'latch-unlotzking position to cause the latches on each of the automobile doors -to operate 'eoincidentally so the locking or unlocking ofany one'of "said latch mechanismsioccurs "substantially at thetsame'time, V and in this manner simultaneously "lock or unlock 'all' -of *the doors to which the 'devicesare connected.

Another object'of the invention is to proViderneans 'operatively connected with all of the individual latch mechanisms of the various doorsof an automobilewhere- *.by.lockingor unlocking .the latchmechanism'on any one of the doors is accompanied by 'locking or unlocking of-thela'tches'on all of the 'o'therdoors, :so arranged that 'all'of the doors'are locke'dor unlocked simultaneously.

And'another object'o f'the inventionisto afford struc- {ture whereby its installation may be readily .ma'de in the various makes of automobiles .that I have 1 the type of "latches above described, either at the factory as "an initial-equipment, or subsequentlyas an added 'fa'cility "without material alteration of the automobile'dooristructures.

Otherobjects and advantages of the invention appear in the following description.

Anillustrativeembodiment of the invention isfshown in 'the accompanying drawings, in which:

.Fig. .1.is a fragmentary interior elevation of *an=auto- :mobile door having thereon .a latch mechanism of the usual .type-to which is connected a unit to be operated thereby, in'whichthe invention is incorporated;

Fig. '2isa side elevational view of a'unit in which'is included rotary solenoids and a switch electrically connected therewith;

Figure 3 is a transverse section of .the switchnlechanism, the sectionbeing on the line '33 of Fig. '2;

Fig. 4 is an-elevational vviewof .the switch mechanism in a plane'at'right ang'les'tothat of'Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is adiagrammatical'view showing the electrical .circuits for the solenoid and switch units;

.Fig. 6 isadetailside elevational view of tp'artsmsed for locking a'tmn'k door; and

Fig. 7 'is a fragmentary side elevational .view "of a trunk door for the automobile to which is applied a solenoid and trunk unit as a locking means therefor.

The illustrative embodiment of the invention consists of a solenoid and switch unit, shown generally by A,

ice

.that has *abase-plateS 'on which is.moun'ted alpairof rotary solenoids 9 and "10 and a switch box 11. The solenoids used in this structure are a commercial product of the rotary type known'asthelLlandIRotaryfSolenoid, .theftwo solenoids being :adapted to 'ibe activated in .opposite directions when energized. (On the 'base ilate is mounted a'verticallyreciprocating "bar "12,, the upper end of which extendsjlooselythrough aslOtte'd platel13 that permits lateral play of the bar. The .barlis pivio'ta'lly connected with :the uppermost solenoid I9 .lhy .an "ear 1'4,:a'nd is 'pivoted tothe lowermost xsolenoid'lo by "a'siniilar ear f5 so the fbanisimpelled downwardly .or upwardly :by *the rotary actions .of said solenoids .selectively as said solenoids are energized. "In the switch --box is"mounted a vertically sliding .rod"16 which iseonnected at its top by alink 17 withthe lower ;end of .the barFlZ by-meansof 'a pin 118 whihmermitsilateral swaying of said :bar occasioned by .the throw of .the :pivotal connections of theears 14 and 15 with the solenoids.

'Onthe 'rod1'6 is mounted a longitudinally reciprocable H-plate '19 that moves between guide-springs 12.3 Jand'24 'in {the switch 'box '11,.there 'being.an elongated :slot .21

in the H-plate to permit longitudinal .movement, thereof.

'The H-plate isrsecured loosely .on :the rod "16 by means of collars '22, ,preferably of;insulating material, so that as'the'rod; is vertically-reciprocated, the H- plate is moved horizontally. "The guide-springs Z3 and .2'4t loosely extend respectively through :the corresponding slotted ends of the H-plate so thatwhenthe H,-plate .is raised or lowered 'itibecomesshifted lengthwise in one direction OT'TIhCOthCI accordinglyasihe rodzismoved.

Extending-from 'onexsidemf the Hfplate 19 is a contactor "25 that bears againstv a contact "blade2'8 when the H plate is in its uppermost .position, and dui'ing movement "of the H pIate to its 'lowerrnost position the .con-

tactor 25 bears momentarily'againstasecondblade plate 27 thus electrically. connecting the bladegplates i2'7.and '28. The contactor, after passing fthe blade rplate 27, the electrical connection .between the bladerplates .27 and 18. isbroken,and.the;contactor upon completion of the 'downstroke of .the -'H5plat e is "shifted by .action of the guide-spring 23, causing the contactor to ,pass beneath the "lilade plate 27 into icontact'with a third 3blade;pla-te 26. The .blade -platesf26, .;27 and .28 are suitablyfin stilated from each other and iextend.in, parallel planes spaced apart. During'the upstroke of the H plate the contactor momentarilyfforms an.electrical connectionlbetween'blade plates i2'6'and 27 and;passes over the-blade- 'pl-ate"2'7"andagainintocontact with blade plate'28, the l-l plate'being shifted to 'itsformer position by theycorresponding guide-spring .24. In this Jmann'er electrical connections are "alternately established between the blade-plates 2'6 and 27 and'between thebla'de,-plate;27

and blade plate 28. t

The switches in said units shown ;generallyfby.-B, are .arranged with their blade-plates'27 in electrical .connec- "tion with asource-of energy "such asthe battery-F29 1'(-Fig. '5") .one 'terminal of which is grounded, and t he plates .26 'and "28 are .electrically connected respectively vWith the -circuits 3'0 and 31 .for the solenoids'9 andllltl the terminals 32 and 3'3 of which .aregrounded. By .this arrangement, upon engagement of the contactor 15 with the blade-plate 27 and either of the .l5lade;plates12.6 or 28 the corresponding solenoids'are energized which has the efiect of activating the reciprocating bar 12 downwardly 'or upwardly according i to which of ;the solenoids are energized. The circuits .for the .intermediate'bla'deplates 27 on'the diagram'isindicated;by34rarid the conttactors on the H,-plates .-in the switches '13 rare likewise iindicated'by 2'5. 7

The invention 'is applied ;to the car by installing .one uniLA 'oneach .of the car doors3'5 ron.the tinnerside thereof .conveniently 'below 'the latch mechanism vF36 which is of the type above described with which the Packard .car of the I948 model is eguippeimnda .connecting rod 37 is attached atits .upperend withithelateh :control push-rod .38, and .its lower .endwithithenre eipro- 'catin'gbarIZ of the'unit "A, so'lha-t as'the push-rodis moved up or down the solenoids 8 and 9 and the switchrod 16 are accordingly moved and the solenoids and the switches B of the units A on each door are appropriately connected with like solenoids and switches of all of the other units for the other doors by means of electrical extension cables 39, the arrangement being such that the solenoids and switches of all of the units A are electrically connected alike, so that operation of the push-rod of any one of the latch mechanisms causes similar action of all of said units coincidentally.

The invention may be extended to locking of other doors or cover plates of an automobile such as the trunk door 40 by installing a unit A in the trunk compartment 41 and attaching to the lower end of the vertical sliding rod 16 of the switch B a lock-bolt 42 that is adapted to be projected through a bracket 43 secured to the interior wall of the trunk compartment. In this manner the trunk door is locked or unlocked as the other car doors are locked or unlocked. In this instance a push-rod 44 is connected directly with the reciprocating bar 12 for activating the unit A, the operating end of the push-rod being conveniently located within the car. Further extensions may be made for securing the cover of a fuel fill cap (not shown) by installing an additional unit together with suitable locking connections with the cover.

In using the invention thus constructed and installed, moving of any one of the push-rods to its locked position results in coincidental movement of the push-rods for all of the door latches which thereupon are locked. This is accomplished through the media of the units A which are electrified alike and have the same action. Movement of any one of the push-rods to unlocking position results in coincidental movement of the pushrods for all of the door latches which thereupon are unlocked, through the media of the units A.

Upon failure of the source of energy by which the units A are energized, said units idle and the push-rods thereupon operate independently in locking or unlocking the corresponding latches 36. Under this circumstance the various doors are locked or unlocked separately without being affected by the units A which have become impotent for want of energy.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for coincidentally locking or unlocking the doors of an automobile, said doors having push rod controls, said apparatus comprising a series of like units each having oppositely acting solenoids and a switch, a movable part in each unit interconnecting the solenoids and switch thereof in such a manner as to be operated by the solenoids and to operate the switch, a rod connecting the movable part of each unit with the push-rod control for the latch of the respective door, and electrical connections interconnecting all of said solenoids and said switches, the electrical connections being arranged to provide corresponding operation of all solenoids by a single one of all of the switches, whereby manual operation of one push-rod will operate the respective movable part to actuate the associated switch for energizing all of the solenoids in a direction to cause operation of the other push-rods.

2. In a lock control appliance for the doors of an automobile, said appliance consisting of a series of units mounted in connection with the respective doors, each unit being activated by an operative connection with the corresponding door latch, a switch in each unit having a rod movable by said operative connection provided with a horizontally movable H-plate, guide-springs in said switch by which said H-plate is moved from one position to another as said H-plate is raised or lowered, said H-plate having a contactor for engagement alternately with blade-plates in said switch, and electrical connections between the switches of each unit whereby action of said switches are alike.

3. Apparatus for locking and unlocking the doors of an automobile, said apparatus comprising a system of units installed respectively in the automobile doors, each unit having movable parts connected respectively with the push-rod controls for the door latches, said movable parts being operated by or serving to operate the respective push-rod control depending upon whether the movable part is being operated to cause energization of the system or is being actuated as a part of the system in response to operation of some other unit of the system, each unit having solenoids operatively connected to said movable parts and selectively operable to move the parts in either of two predetermined directions, a switch operatively connected to each solenoid each switch having operating connections with the respective movable parts and being operated in response to movement of the movable parts, and electrical connections between said switches and said solenoids and through the intermediary of which said solenoids may be energized for producing coincidental and corresponding operation of the movable parts in said units, said electrical connections being such as to cause energization of all of said solenoids correspondingly by operation of any single switch.

4. Apparatus for locking or unlocking the doors of an automobile, said doors having push-rod controls, comprising a series of units installed in the car doors of said automobile, said units having similar electrically operable parts interconnected with movable parts which are operatively connected to the push-rod controls for the respective door latches, and electrical connections between all of said electrically operable parts so arranged as to provide operation of all parts correspondingly, said electrically operable parts comprising control and power elements, a control and power element for each of said units, each power element serving to operate the respective movable part, each control element being operable by the respective movable part, each control element dominating the operation of all power elements irrespective of the operation of other control elements whereby operation of one push-rod will cause operation of all other push-rods.

5. Apparatus for locking or unlocking the doors of an automobile which are equipped with locking mechanisms, comprising a system of units carried by the doors, each unit being provided with first means operatively connected to the mechanism of the respective door, electrically operable means included in each unit and being operatively connected to the respective first means, the electrically operable means of each unit comprising control and power elements, and electrical circuit means interconnecting all of said electrically operable means, each power element serving to operate the respective first means, each control element being operable by the respective first means, each control element dominating the operation of all power elements irrespective of the operation of other control elements whereby operation of the mechanism of. any one door will cause operation of the remaining mechanisms of the other doors.

6. Apparatus for locking or unlocking the doors of an automobile which are equipped with locking mechanisms, comprising a system of units carried by the doors, each unit being provided with first means operatively connected to the mechanism of the respective door, electrically operable means included in each unit and being operatively connected to the respective first means, the electrically operable means of each unit comprising control and power elements, and electrical circuit means interconnecting all of said electrically operable means, each power element serving to operate the respective first means, each control element being operable by the respective first means, each control element dominating the operation of all power elements irrespective of the operation of other control elements whereby operation of the mechanism of any one door will cause operation of the remaining mechanisms of the other doors, each control element comprising a rod movable by the movable parts of the respective unit, each rod being provided with a horizontally movable H-plate, guide-springs in said switch by which said H-plate is moved from one position to another as said H-plate is raised or lowered, and bladeplates in said switch. said H-plate having a contactor for engagement alternately with said blade-plates in said switch for making the necessary electrical contacts for providing the aforementioned operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,210,640 Goldmerstein Jan. 2, 1917 2,212,251 Seelinger Aug. 20, 1940 2,371,370 Ward Mar. 13, 1945 

